Shimazu Samurai

I've been contemplating doing Samurai for many years, but haven't started them due to not having the right rule sets or lists, intimidation of painting them and just not finding the clan that really nailed it for me completely. All that has changed now with Impetus which I believe is a perfect rule set for Samurai and the Shimazu clan that totally fits the bill for me. As to painting intimidation I've decided just paint them and see how it goes instead of worrying about it all the time.
Recently I've seen fantastic Samurai armies coming from folks like Saxon Dog, Fig Man 1, Hetairoi Wargames and perusing the awesome pics on the Perry site again has really restarted my imagination for the period.
I'm not saying I'll be starting them immediately, but they have moved up on my to do list into the top 3 with ACW and Arabs. Since I don't have a imminent project due I'll likely be jumping around mostly between these three projects for the foreseeable future with a few things else here and there. 
Why choose the Shimazu clan? The reason is I really like their background as an underdog clan that is tough as old boots. While they are not a tiny clan or even what I'd term small, they are also not what I'd call a super huge clan either and this really appealed to me as I like the smaller or less well known clans more then the really big well known powerful ones. The clan will include allies from the Arima clan which is a small clan they teamed up with to defeat another larger clan. The colours and mons from these clans I also like. Some good information on them can be found here:
http://wiki.samurai-archives.com/index.php?title=Shimazu_clan
http://wiki.samurai-archives.com/index.php?title=Arima_clan_%28Hizen%29
It will mainly be under the leadership of Shimazu Yoshihisaand and his very capable brothers
http://wiki.samurai-archives.com/index.php?title=Shimazu_Yoshihiro
The picture featured above isn't the Shimazu clan, but is a picture I like and so I featured it.

1st North Carolina Militia

This unit has been sitting on my desk well over half done for quite along time and I felt I should finish them up and set them in my cabinet where they belong and so I did.
This is my impression of the 1st North Carolina Militia  although they actually probably looked a bit more shabby then this as I perhaps have too many uniformed soldiers in the line and their clothes are in relatively good shape and not ragged which they likely were.
Information on these units is pretty sketchy to say the least and so I'll just give a general background. Excepting one North Carolina militia which held it's ground at Camden all the rest ran away with many not even firing a shot in anger and so General Greene was hoping to get a bit more from them at Guilford Courthouse and he did. They actually managed some sniping and even a volley which did inflict casualties on the British before throwing down their equipment and running. Since Greene really didn't expect more from them and they did inflict some damage he was content if not happy with their performance.
As to the painting I've continued on with the muddy theme as with the previous units and mixed up military and civilian equipment using mainly Foundry colors. Since I didn't have the time to make a flag or order one I used the free online flag's from http://quindiastudios.blogspot.com/2011/10/flag-monday_10.html in which he has done a fine job, but it seems my printer needs more ink as mine came out a bit faded. Giles also did one of his militia standard bearers getting shot before I did which I think lends itself naturally to this figure and something I kept in mind.
As you can see these are done using black lining and all eyes painted in which I seldom do these days any more as it's extremely time consuming and so I'm not sure if I'll continue to do that on my next AWI unit, but since the rest of the army is that way I'm not sure if it will look right if I don't. Just need to chew it over for a bit. The next AWI unit I'll do will probably be Continentals, but as to when I cannot say just yet.
Thanks for viewing.:-)
Miniature Company- Foundry and Perry miniatures

Wainwright Battery #1 I Corps

I'm modelling my armies under the command structure at Gettysburg for both sides. This is my first artillery piece for the period and is a 3" rifled parrott gun.Information on each battery under General Wainwright at the time of Gettysburg is a bit sketchy except for perhaps Lt. Greenleaf T. Stevens and so I'll just number them battery #1, #2 etc. for ease.
Wainwright was commissioned a major in the 1st New York Artillery on October 17, 1861 and rose quickly through the ranks.
He was chief of artillery of I Corps at the Battle of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg where he helped repulse the Confederate attacks on Cemetery Hill and exchanged volleys with confederate artillery prior to Pickett's charge.
In 1864 he became chief of artillery of V Corps and also attained the rank of Brevet General which he held until the end of the war.
He was an author as well writing "A Diary of Battle: The Personal Journals of Colonel Charles S. Wainwright, 1861–1865" where he discussed his opinions on various generals he served under and experiences he had to include engagements and how to use artillery.
I was pretty keen to try out the new Foundry ACW paints, but didn't want to do a whole regiment before trying it out and so opted for an artillery piece as a test run. The Union Blue does come out authentically dark, but I'm undecided if it's perhaps too dark as I prefer a bit of a zing to my miniatures. The Union Blue Trousers came out great and so no need for a second thought on that. I'm looking forward to see if the confederate colors work out just as good. For the cannon body I tried Foundry's French Gun Olive Green and thought it too bright and so instead went with French Dragoon Green which I quite like.
Next up Iron Brigade!
Thank you for viewing.:-)
Miniature Company- Perry Miniatures

Progress on my hobby room

Here it is so far!

                                                                                 
I've just put in some new display cabinets and shelves . The floors have been scrubbed to almost new and the walls and ceiling are also repainted.
One of the shelves backboard you may have noticed is missing and that was because it arrived torn and so I'm waiting on the replacement.

I've also put in some new overhead lighting that has really brightened up the room.

I also completely reorganized a large storage cabinet with extra shelves. It's a closed cabinet for items I don't wish to be seen as it's largely modelling supplies and bits and bobs.

As you can see the walls(especially the wall behind my photography table) need some adornment  and so I just ordered some military scenic prints  to spruce up the walls a bit in order to give it a better gamer/history buff feel to the room in addition to the miniatures and books.

I have a bathroom attached to the room where I still need to buy a closed door shelf for it and some new towels and such.
Next large project for the room is putting in a custom games table with closed doors for storage underneath instead of the folding tables I'm currently using. I'll probably do this in November or December I figure.
So far I'm very happy with the room and feeling pretty excited as it's nearing completion.:-)

Unexpected

Sorry about the lack of posts recently, but I was at a tournament in France and when I got home I got the phone call everyone dreads and heard that my loving and kind father who I loved very much had unexpectedly passed away which pretty much left me shattered for a few days. I've managed to start keeping myself busy in order to stop myself sinking into a black hole of depression. I can't paint yet, but I have started work on my hobby room which is busy work that's helps me not to think too much. I know the grief will lessen in time, but will never completely go away. I'll miss him very much.
I thought I would show the mess that is my hobby room to show you I'll have plenty to do with cleaning up, replacing shelves, new lighting and repainting walls. I'll take some more pictures when I'm done.
I also have some pics of the event in France and will post them tonight or in the next day or two.

Caballeros Attacking

The last unit finished for the event!!!!! (pant, gasp,.......I made it!) This last instalment for the event project is a another unit of Caballeros who have now thrown their throwing spears and have drawn their swords for close work to finish the attack.

Again, like the other unit of Caballeros they have a smaller standard compared to the Caballeros Hidalgos whose role is pure shock troops. The smaller standard allows them to move quicker as they try to break up enemy formations with javelins and then when the enemy is disorganized they launch their assaults which is more in the traditional method of Iberian fighting rather then Caballeros Hidalgos adopted Frankish style of fighting.

As with the rest of the army I mixed Christian and Moorish looks together to give that Iberian feel to them. I continued using AP with highlights and hand painting shields and banner.

Completing this army was much tougher then I thought it would be, but I'm happy I pushed through and finished. I thought painting cavalry would be less models to do, but in reality it's really two models which doubles the figure count. I'll eventually add more to the army, but it will be infantry!! After now painting 64 cavalry models I won't be painting any more 28mm horses for a little bit and that's for sure! I'll do a full army picture when I get some time.
As always thank you for viewing.:-)
Miniature Company- Artizan, Perry, Conquest Miniatures

Caballeros Hidalgos on the charge

This is my latest instalment of Caballeros Hidalgos for my El Cid army with some more of the noble sons of Spain now pictured here on a full tilt charge led by an inspirational cantador featured on the black stallion with a small guitar strapped to his back.
A cantador was a form of bard that would sing stories of knightly adventures and virtues which was to help inspire the knights to exert themselves to feats of valour.......and sometimes it worked and sometimes not.
Again the models are done with AP with extra highlights added except shields and banner which are completely hand painted from start to finish.
Just one more unit of Caballeros to go and that will complete the army for the event. I'm struggling to get it done, but I think I'll make it.
In 2 weeks I get to start back on my ACW! Today is my birthday I enjoying looking at my new mini's and to try out the Foundry ACW new paint range I got!
Thank you for viewing!:-)
Miniature Company-Perry, Artizan and Conquest Games